The Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Mental Disabilities (APPACDM) was founded in 1962 by Sheila Stilwell, a mother of a child with Down syndrome, who wanted to provide assistance and special education. With the help of a psychiatrist, Dr. Alice Mello Tavares, the organization was created to support children with mental disabilities and their families in Portugal. APPACDM aims to promote the development, well-being, and social integration of people with severe and profound mental disabilities through activities like arts, workshops, therapy, and cognitive development. The organization is staffed by professionals like psychologists, social workers, teachers, and therapists.

1. Founded
The A.P.P.A.C.D.M. is a Portuguese Association of Parents and
Friends of mental Children. Was created by an action of a Mother and a
children mongoloid – Ms. Sheila Stilwell that: "not finding any kind of
response in order to provide assistance and special education to your
child and all children existing in the same situation taken care of in
Portugal would be something created for purpose".
She counts with a collaboration from a psychiatrist from Lisbon – Dr.
Alice Mello Tavares – that, given the appropriate technical support, with
help from another’s parents and friend. That allowed in 1962 an
association that arose in time is designated by Portuguese Association of
Parents and Friends of Mongoloid Children.
In 1964, the organisation belonged to the International League of
Societies for the mentally disease, and now is known as
- Portuguese Association of Parents and Friends of
Children with mental (APPACDM).
In 1965 on February 2 opens the1st Education Centre in Lisbon,
getting that date – The Day of Our Lady of Candles (Senhora das
Candeias), become the official day of APPACDM.
Since then, APPACDM has been active in various sectors to support
People with Mental Disabilities.
The work has been structured by responsible and qualified people there
care for persons with learning disabilities in the district and their families.
For whom?
The activities have finality to:
-propose development and maintenance capacity
- Comfort
Of young people and adults aged less than 16 years, with mental
retardation, severe and profound.
Objectives of organisation
Valorize and honoring people with disabilities, making them
socially useful;
Promote physical, intellectual and emotional development of a
person with disabilities;

2. Promote the welfare and health of a person with severe and
profound mental retardation;
Promote social integration and employment of people with mental
retardation;
Promote the development of personality, creativity, solidarity,
citizenship, participation , responsibility of choice and decision;
Help the family in there objectives.
Activities
To every young person is offered activities according to their
characteristics, needs and interests.
Are made activities who approaching of reality of the day, for example
-
garden conservation
clean of public spaces
Other young people are in labor market, in companies, where they do
several activities with the workers.
Activities are offered:
Arts - drama, painting, music, dance, body language;
Workshop’s - ceramics, Arraiolos, pottery, wood, tapestries, making
dolls;
Therapy - physical therapy, music therapy, hydrotherapy,
whirlpool, hippo therapy, psychomotor, swimming;
Cognitive development and autonomy - working with computers
, training and transport independence of daily living (cooking,
personal hygiene, housekeeping, laundry, etc.).

3. These activities are conducted in accordance with an Individualized
Intervention Plan developed with the family.
Human Resources
Their team includes:
Psychologists,
social workers,
physiotherapists,
teachers (experts),
Monitors,
Helpers of Establishment of Support for Disabled Children,
Education Assistants,
Physical Therapy Assistants,
Occupational Therapist.